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Beau to renew his vows - nude
18/04/2002 08:02 - (SA)
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| South African king of nudity and former Hilton College boy, Beau Brummel, with his wife, former top fashion model Cecilia, bare it all for the camera outside their Umbogintwini home. (Ian Carbutt, Natal Witness) |
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Craig Bishop
Pietermaritzburg - Hilton College Chapel could be the setting for South Africa's first naked nuptials, if the school allows one of its most controversial old boys, local king of nudity Beau Brummel, to reaffirm his wedding vows to his wife Cecilia there.
Brummel, whose real name is Mike Bush, has been married to former top Johannesburg model Cecilia Kapp for 35 years. However, the original wedding ceremony took place in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court and the two have their hearts set on "an honest Christian wedding".
Brummel says he first discovered his form of expressionism as a pupil at Hilton from 1956 to 1960, when students would skinny dip in the nearby Umgeni River - something that does not happen so much these days, according to school chaplain Kevin Robertson.
Brummel was lead choir boy and won the Victor Ludorum medal before becoming a UK pop star. Brummel said British entrepreneur Richard Branson is currently busy compiling his autobiography, titled World Nudism.
And it was old school friends at the 10th anniversary of the Umhlanga Nudist Lagoon last week who suggested the idea of naked nuptials in the Hilton chapel.
Skinstad, Teichman among the guests
Celebrities, including Springbok captain Bobby Skinstad and Gary Teichmann, as well as old friends, are expected to bare all if the ceremony goes ahead on a day when pupils are not around.
Hilton remained undecided on the issue on Wednesday, during the absence of principal Mike Nicholson and without Brummel having formally asked permission. Acting principal Ant Lovell said he doubts permission will be forthcoming.
"We do believe in enriching our pupils' education by exposing them to as extensive a range of experiences as possible, but we are not convinced that Mr Brummel's assets are likely to contribute that much."
And the provincial Education Department has warned that the school could fall foul of the national Schools Act if the naked wedding goes ahead. Although department spokesperson Mandla Msibi could barely talk to the Witness through his laughter, he recovered enough to say that schools are for learning. "Let's keep it that way. The department could never support nudity in schools."
Brummel however, is adamant that the ceremony should go ahead and said he is sure Nicholson, who was a junior while Brummel was writing matric at Hilton, would agree.
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